Bangkok: The Director-General of the Department of Public Works is confident that mathematical models will be able to prove the cause of the Office of the Auditor General's building collapsing. Mr. Pongnara Yenying, who chairs the Fact-Finding Committee on the Construction of the State Audit Office Building, has presented the progress of the investigation to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Pongnara reported on the investigation into building damage, focusing on both government and private structures in Bangkok and other provinces. The initial inspection covered over 300 government agencies and approximately 900 buildings in Bangkok, identifying severe damage in only the State Audit Office building. In the provinces, the inspection concentrated on school buildings, hospitals, and other government structures, encompassing more than 3,000 agencies and about 9,000 buildings. Out of these, 16 buildings were found damaged and closed for repairs across 76 provinces.
For private buildings, the investigation focused on nine types of structures that require annual inspections by law, including high-rise buildings and large-scale establishments. Following an earthquake on March 28, Mr. Anutin ordered a re-examination of these buildings. In Bangkok, Governor Mr. Chadchart Sittipunt has mandated inspections of 11,000 buildings, with over 5,000 having been checked and found not severely damaged.
In provincial areas, approximately 60,000 buildings require inspection across 76 provinces. Local governments have instructed building owners to conduct inspections and report every 15 days. Smaller buildings in Bangkok are being handled through a complaint system managed by the BMA, with about 20,000 reports filed, and 18,000 inspections completed.
Mr. Pongnara also detailed the ongoing investigation into the Auditor General's building collapse, which involves creating a mathematical model to determine whether design flaws contributed to the failure. The project is expected to conclude within 90 days, with the model simulating real earthquake conditions on the building.
Document inspections are being conducted with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), including reviews of daily and weekly reports, approval requests, and material testing. Collected materials are being analyzed in collaboration with the police.
Mr. Phongsana indicated that relevant laws and regulations might need revision to prevent future issues, including the Building Control Act and Professional Engineer Act. When questioned on the mathematical model's timeline, he confirmed that work began a month ago and involves collaboration among five agencies to ensure accuracy.
The investigation committee includes experts from the Engineering Council of Thailand, the Engineering Institute of Thailand, and other relevant institutions. The committee aims to provide a clear determination of the building's collapse cause once the investigation concludes.
The mathematical modeling process is ongoing, with data entry completed and the first sequence finalized. Mr. Phongsana emphasized the need for thorough checks and discussions among the involved parties to ensure consistent and accurate results before drawing final conclusions.